Hackers stole payment card data from a Boston restaurant chain

Dec 28, 2013 14:51 GMT  ·  By

A couple of weeks ago, we learned that the credit cards of hundreds of people who attended conventions at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center had been used for fraudulent purchases. At the time, no one knew where the payment card information had been stolen from.

According to The Boston Globe, the source of the breach is the Briar Group, a local business which owns around 10 bars and restaurants in Boston. Two of them are located at the Westin hotel that’s connected to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

The company has admitted that cybercriminals breached its computer systems sometime between October and early November. The attackers gained access to names, payment card numbers, expiration dates, and card security information.

The number of affected people has not been determined, but a Briar spokeswoman has told The Boston Globe that the company’s establishments are visited by thousands of individuals every month.

After discovering the breach, the company has implemented additional security measures and closed the security holes exploited by the attackers. It’s uncertain who is behind the attack, but the Secret Service and Boston Police have launched an investigation.